Camera system and housing with wireless surface indicators

ABSTRACT

A camera system includes a wireless indicator that emits light to provide signals to a user. This wireless indicator is attached to a lens casing that covers the front face of the camera to protect components of the camera such as the lens. A wireless signal interface on the front face of the camera is configured to emit ultraviolet light in response to control circuitry within the camera. The ultraviolet light is transmitted through the lens casing to an excitable element. The excitable element produces visible light in response to the ultraviolet light. Any re-emitted visible light that travels back towards the camera lens and image sensor is reflected by a reflective layer, which is configured to transmit ultraviolet light while reflecting visible light. Therefore, the wireless indicator does not cause light artifacts or image flaws to appear in images captured by the image sensor.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.13/829,377, filed Mar. 14, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,030,606, which isincorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

This disclosure relates to a camera system, and more specifically, to awireless camera surface illuminator.

Description of the Related Art

Digital cameras are increasingly used in outdoors and sportsenvironments. Often, camera housings are required to protect camerasfrom the elements in such environments. In order to allow camera surfaceindicators (such as LCD screens and indicator lights) to be visiblethrough a camera housing, the camera housing will often be composed of atransparent or semi-transparent material. Unfortunately, utilizing suchmaterials can result in the reflection of light from the surfaceindicators within the camera housing and upon the camera lens. Theresulting captured images can include various light artifacts or otherimage flaws as a result of the reflected light.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosed embodiments have other advantages and features which willbe more readily apparent from the following detailed description of theinvention and the appended claims, when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1a illustrates a perspective view of a camera system, according toone example embodiment.

FIG. 1b illustrates another alternative perspective view of a camerasystem, according to one example embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a rear of the camera system,according to one example embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates a camera for use with the camera system, according toone example embodiment.

FIG. 4 illustrates a front view of a camera with an attached flat frontcasing and an indicator, according to one example embodiment.

FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of a camera with an attached flat frontcasing and a wireless indicator, according to one example embodiment.

FIG. 6 provides a close-up view of the indicator of a camera with anattached flat front casing, illustrating light flow from a wirelesssignal interface, through a reflective layer to an excitable element,which emits visible light, according to one example embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The figures and the following description relate to preferredembodiments by way of illustration only. It should be noted that fromthe following discussion, alternative embodiments of the structures andmethods disclosed herein will be readily recognized as viablealternatives that may be employed without departing from the principlesof what is claimed.

Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments, examples ofwhich are illustrated in the accompanying figures. It is noted thatwherever practicable similar or like reference numbers may be used inthe figures and may indicate similar or like functionality. The figuresdepict embodiments of the disclosed system (or method) for purposes ofillustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize fromthe following description that alternative embodiments of the structuresand methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing fromthe principles described herein.

Example Camera System Configuration

A camera system includes a camera and a camera housing structured to atleast partially enclose the camera. The camera comprises a camera bodyhaving a camera lens structured on a front surface of the camera body,various indicators on the front of the surface of the camera body, andelectronics (e.g., imaging electronics, power electronics, etc.)internal to the camera body for capturing images via the camera lensand/or performing other functions. The camera housing includes a lenswindow structured on the front surface of the camera housing andconfigured to substantially align with the camera lens, and one or moreindicator windows structured on the front surface of the camera housingand configured to substantially align with the camera indicators.

FIGS. 1a and 1b illustrate various views of a camera system according toone example embodiment. The camera system includes, among othercomponents, a camera housing 100. In one embodiment, a first housingportion 102 includes a front face with four sides (i.e., a top side,bottom side, left side, and right side) structured to form a cavity thatreceives a camera (e.g. a still camera or video camera).

In one embodiment, the camera housing 100 has a small form factor (e.g.,a height of approximately 4 to 6 centimeters, a width of approximately 5to 7 centimeters, and a depth of approximately 1 to 4 centimeters), andis lightweight (e.g., approximately 50 to 150 grams). The camera housing100 can be rigid (or substantially rigid) (e.g., plastic, metal,fiberglass, etc.) or pliable (or substantially pliable) (e.g., leather,vinyl, neoprene, etc.). In one embodiment, the camera housing 100 may beappropriately configured for use in various elements. For example, thecamera housing 100 may comprise a waterproof enclosure that protects acamera from water when used, for example, while surfing or scuba diving.

Portions of the camera housing 100 may include exposed areas to allow auser to manipulate buttons on the camera that are associated with thecamera functionality. Alternatively, such areas may be covered with apliable material to allow the user to manipulate the buttons through thecamera housing 100. For example, in one embodiment the top face of thecamera housing 100 includes an outer shutter button 112 structured sothat a shutter button 112 of the camera is substantially aligned withthe outer shutter button 112 when the camera is secured within thecamera housing 100. The shutter button 112 of the camera isoperationally coupled to the outer shutter button 112 so that pressingthe outer shutter button 112 allows the user to operate the camerashutter button.

In one embodiment, the front face of the camera housing 100 includes alens window 104 structured so that a lens of the camera is substantiallyaligned with the lens windows 104 when the camera is secured within thecamera housing 100. The lens window 104 can be adapted for use with aconventional lens, a wide angle lens, a flat lens, or any otherspecialized camera lens. In this embodiment, the lens window 104comprises a waterproof seal so as to maintain the waterproof aspect ofthe housing 100.

In one embodiment, the camera housing 100 includes one or more securingstructures 120 for securing the camera housing 100 to one of a varietyof mounting devices. For example, FIG. 1a illustrates the camera housingsecured to a clip-style mount 122. In other embodiments, the camerahousing 100 can be secured to a different type of mounting structure.

In one embodiment, the camera housing 100 includes an indicator window106 structured so that one or more camera indicators are substantiallyaligned with the indicator window 106 when the camera is secured withinthe camera housing 100. The indicator window 106 can be any shape orsize, and can be made of the same material as the remainder of thecamera housing 100, or can be made of any other material, for instance atransparent or translucent material and/or a non-reflective material.

In some embodiments described below, instead of including an indicatorwindow 106 structured to substantially align with a camera indicator,the camera housing 100 itself can include indicators controlled by thecamera. In such embodiments, the indicator window 106 can include asignal receiving mechanism configured to receive indicator controlsignals from the camera, and can include a light-emitting mechanismconfigured to emit light in response to receiving such indicator controlsignals.

The described housing 100 may also be adapted for a wider range ofdevices of varying shapes, sizes and dimensions besides cameras. Forexample, an expansion module may be attached to housing 100 to addexpanded features to electronic devices such as cell phones, musicplayers, personal digital assistants (“PDAs”), global positioning system(“GPS”) units, or other portable electronic devices.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of camera housing 100 illustrating asecond housing portion 202, according to one example embodiment. Thesecond housing portion 202 detachably couples with the first housingportion 102 opposite the front face of the first housing portion. Thefirst housing portion 102 and second housing portion 202 arecollectively structured to enclose a camera within the cavity when thesecond housing portion 202 is secured to the first housing portion 102in a closed position.

In one embodiment, the second housing portion 202 comprises a door 204that allows the camera to be removed from the housing 100. The door 204pivots around a hinge 210 that allows the door 204 to be opened or shut.In one embodiment, a first fastening structure 214 located on the topface of the camera housing 100 detachably couples to a second fasteningstructure 216 on the door 204. The fastening structures 214, 216 securethe door 204 to the first portion 102 of the camera housing 100 in aclosed position when coupled, as illustrated in FIG. 2. In oneembodiment, the fastening structure 214 comprises a hook-shaped lateralbar and the fastening structure 216 comprises an L-shaped bar. Thefastening structure 214 can pivot upwards to allow the door 204 to closeand can then be pressed down around the fastening structure 216 to holdthe door 204 in the closed position. In different embodiments, fasteningstructures for securing the door 204 can include, for example, a buttonassembly, a buckle assembly, a clip assembly, a hook and loop assembly,a magnet assembly, a ball and catch assembly, and an adhesive assembly,or any other type of securing mechanism.

In one alternative embodiment, the hinge 210 is instead located on thetop face of the housing 100 and the fastening structures 214, 216 areinstead located on the bottom face of the housing 100. Alternatively,the hinge 210 and fastening structures 214, 216 may be located onopposite side faces of the camera housing 100.

In one embodiment, the housing 100 includes a watertight seal so thatthe housing 100 is waterproof when the door 204 is shut. For example, inone embodiment, the door 204 includes a sealing structure positioned oninterior edges of the door 204. The sealing structure provides awatertight seal between the first portion of the camera housing 102 andthe door 204 when the first securing structure 214 on the top face ofthe camera housing 100 is coupled to the second securing structure 216on the top edge of the door 204.

In one embodiment, an outer hinge structure 206 on the bottom edge ofthe second housing portion 202 detachably couples to an inner hingestructure 208 on the bottom edge of the first housing portion 102 toform the hinge 210. For example, in one embodiment, the outer hingestructure 206 comprises one or more hook-shaped protrusions structuredto securely fasten to a rod-shaped member of the inner hinge structure208. Other mechanisms for coupling the second housing portion 202 to thehousing 100 may also be used in various alternative embodiments. Inother embodiments, the second housing portion 202 may be permanentlyattached to the first housing portion 102.

FIG. 3 illustrates a camera 300 for use with the camera system,according to one example embodiment. The camera 300 is adapted to fitwithin the enclosure of the housing 100 discussed above. As illustrated,the camera 300 includes various indicators, including the LED lights 302and the LED display 304. When the camera 300 is enclosed within thehousing 100, the LED display 304 is configured to substantially alignwith the indicator window 106, and the LED lights 302 are configured tobe visible through the housing 100. As will be discussed herein, the LEDlights 302 and the LED display 304 can be replaced with signal-emittingmechanisms configured to emit signals that cause indicators on thehousing to display visible light in response to receiving such signals.

Wireless Surface Illuminator

FIG. 4 illustrates a front view of a camera 300 with an attached flatfront casing 402 and a plurality of indicators 404/406, according to oneexample embodiment. The attached slim form-factor flat lens casing 402covers the entire front face of the camera (as indicated by obliquelines in FIG. 4), and serves to protect components of the camera, suchas the lens 408, from environmental elements. The lens casing 402 may bedetachable, or it may be permanently attached to the camera. The lenscasing 402 is composed of a transparent or semi-transparent material,which allows light to be transmitted through the lens casing 402. In oneembodiment, the lens casing 402 comprises glass. In another embodiment,the lens casing 402 comprises various plastics or polyethylene.

The indicators 404/406 serve as illuminators, and emit visible light. Asmentioned previously, an indicator is capable of receiving indicatorcontrol signals from the camera 300, and may be configured to emit lightin response to receiving such signals. In some embodiments, a cameraprocessor sends indicator control signals to an indicator 404/406 todisplay visible light to provide signals to a user. For example, anindicator 404/406 may emit light to signify that the camera is recordinga video, to signify an amount of remaining battery life, or to signifythat an image is about to be captured, among a number of otherfunctions. An indicator 404/406 can also emit light in different colors,intensities of light, or in different pulsation patterns depending onthe signal being conveyed. In the example embodiment of FIG. 4, theindicator 404 includes an indicator screen configured to display text,symbols, and/or animations, and the indicators 406 include LEDsconfigured to emit light in response to various camera functionalities(such as recording video, taking pictures, indicating low batterylevels, and indicating camera start-up or shut-down).

Generally, visible light incident upon the image capture region 412 willenter the camera lens 408. The lens 408 may be located anywhere on thefront face of the camera 300. In an embodiment, the lens 408 occupies acentral region of the front face of the camera 300. In anotherembodiment, the base of the lens 408 is situated in a recessed channelof the front face of the camera 300. An aperture coupled to the lens 408can be adjusted to limit the amount of light that is transmitted throughthe lens 408. Furthermore, an image sensor 410 located underneath thelens 408 is configured to sense the light that is ultimately transmittedthrough the lens 408 and directed upon the image sensor 410 when animage is captured. During the capture of an image, visible lightincident upon the image capture region 412 is directed towards the lens408, whereas visible light incident upon the area 414 a-d outside of theimage capture region 412 is not directed towards the lens 408.

The image capture region 412 occupies a region within the front face ofthe camera. In an embodiment, the image capture region 412 comprises aregion of the lens casing 402 that allows for an increased amount oflight to be directed into the lens 408. In some embodiments, the edgesof the image capture region form two double hyperbolas that areconnected at each corner of the front face of the camera 300. In oneembodiment, the shape of the image capture region 412 is based on theshape and location of the lens 408, the shape and location of the imagesensor 410, or the depth of the lens 408 and/or the image sensor 410from the lens casing 402 within the camera 300. Alternatively, the shapeof the image capture region 412 can be based on any other properties ofthe camera that affect the ability of light to pass through the lenscasing 402 and lens 408 and be captured by the image sensor 410.

Although three indicators 404/406 are shown in the embodiment of FIG. 4,any number or type of indicators 404/406 may be present on the camera300. The indicators 404/406 can be placed in any region 414 a-d outsideof the image capture region 412. In another embodiment, the indicators404/406 are placed in region 414 b outside of the image capture region412. In some embodiments, the indicators 404/406 comprise material thatblocks or reflects visible light. This makes it undesirable to place theindicators 404/406 within the image capture region 412, as theindicators 404/406 block light that would otherwise pass through thelens 408 and be captured by the image sensor 410.

FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of a camera 300, according to one exampleembodiment. The lens 408 occupies a recessed channel 502 within thefront face of the camera 300. The attached lens casing 402 covers thefront face of the camera, protecting components such as the lens 408. Inthe embodiment of FIG. 5, the camera 300 includes a wireless indicator500. It should be known that while only one indicator is illustrated inFIG. 5, the camera, as noted above, can include any number of indicatorsas indicated in, for example, the embodiment of FIG. 4.

The indicator 500 of the embodiment of FIG. 5 includes a wireless signalinterface 504, a reflective layer 506, and an excitable element 508. Thewireless signal interface 504 is configured to emit a wireless signalautomatically or in response to a stimulus from control circuitry withinthe camera 300. The remainder of the description will primarily describeembodiments in which the wireless signal interface 504 emitsultra-violet (“UV”) light. The UV light emitted by the wireless signalinterface passes through the lens casing 402 and the reflective layer506, and into an excitable element 508. The excitable element 508 isconfigured to emit visible light as visible light for display inresponse to receiving the UV light.

As described herein, the indicator 500 includes one of each of awireless signal interface 504, a reflective layer 506, and an excitableelement 508. It should be noted that in some embodiments, the indicator500 can include multiple wireless signal interfaces 504 or excitableelements 508. Likewise, a wireless signal interface 504 or excitableelement 508 can be used for multiple indicators 500. In addition, eachindicator 500 can include a dedicated reflective layer 506, or onereflective layer 506 can be used for multiple indicators 500.

FIG. 6 provides a close-up view of the wireless indicator 500 of acamera 300, according to one example embodiment. The wireless signalinterface 504 is configured to emit a wireless signal from the camera.In some embodiments, the wireless signal interface 504 is ashort-wavelength (i.e., UV) invisible pump light, which is controlled bya control circuit within the camera 300. When directed to do so by thecontrol circuit, the wireless signal interface 504 emits UV light(dashed arrows in FIG. 6) through the attached lens casing 402. Asdescribed above, the lens casing 402 can be made of any transparent orsemi-transparent material that allows external light to pass through thelens casing 402 and reach the lens 408 and image sensor. In someembodiments, the lens casing 402 transmits visible light butincidentally also reflects or refracts visible light within the lenscasing 402. As a result, any visible light emitted from the wirelesssignal interface 504 can be reflected or refracted by and within thelens casing 402 and onto the camera lens 408 for capture by the imagesensor. Reflected or refracted light from the wireless signal interface504 captured by the image sensor can result in various light artifactsor other image flaws in a captured image. UV light, however, does notappear in images when captured by an image sensor. Thus, if the wirelesssignal interface 504 emits UV light instead of visible light, no lightartifacts or image flaws will result from incidental captured UV light

After light travels from the wireless signal interface 504 through thelens casing 402, the light is then transmitted into a reflective layer506 coupled to the lens casing 402. The reflective layer 506 is composedof any material that allows for the transmittal of UV light andreflection of visible light. In one aspect, the reflective layer 506comprises a dielectric mirror. A dielectric mirror is coated in amaterial that is configured to reflect light at distinct wavelengthintervals: light at a specific wavelength range is reflected, whilelight outside of that range is transmitted through the dielectricmirror. In another embodiment, the reflective layer 506 comprises avisible absorber (e.g., a short pass filter). A short pass filtercomprises a coating that reflects light at longer wavelengths (e.g.,visible light), and transmits light at shorter wavelengths (e.g., UVlight). In one embodiment, the reflective layer 506 comprises a dichroiclayer. The reflective layer 506 transmits the UV light from the wirelesssignal interface 504 into the excitable element 508.

An excitable element 508 is coupled to the reflective layer 506. The UVlight that passes through the reflective layer 506 is received by theexcitable element 508. The excitable element 508, in response to UVlight incident upon the excitable element 508, emits visible light fordisplay to a user. In one embodiment, the excitable element 508comprises a phosphor layer, which can exhibit luminescence. In such anembodiment, light is absorbed by the phosphor layer, causing thephosphor to become optically excited. The phosphor then re-emits lightin the visible spectral band. In a further embodiment, the phosphorlayer is protected by a cover sheet. The visible light emitted by theexcitable element 508 is shown as solid arrows from the excitableelement 508 in FIG. 6. Any visible light emitted towards the reflectivelayer 506 is reflected outward and is not transmitted back through thelens casing 402. Thus, the reflective layer 506 prevents visible lightemitted by the excitable element 508 from being reflected or refractedby the lens casing 502 into the lens 408, preventing the visible lightemitted by the excitable element 508 from causing artifacts or imageflaws in captured images.

The wireless signal interface 504 can emit light in a specific pulsationpattern to modify how the light is emitted by the excitable element 508and how the visible light is ultimately displayed to a viewer. Forexample, the wireless signal interface 504 may be configured to pulsethe UV light in a specific pattern over time, and the excitable element508 is configured to display visible light based on the pattern of thereceived UV light. In such embodiments, the excitable element 508 mayassociate a variety of pre-determined UV light patterns with visiblelight of a particular color, shape, character, or pattern. For example,if the excitable element 508 receives three short UV light pulses, theexcitable element 508 may display a blue “T”, and if the excitableelement receives two long UV light pulses, the excitable element 508 maydisplay a red “4”, and so forth. Thus, the wireless signal interface 504can include a photoreceiver controller configured to identify a desiredvisible notification (such as a particular word, symbol, pattern, color,and the like), and can emit a UV light pattern associated with theidentified visible light emission by the excitable element 508 in orderto cause the excitable element 508 to display the identified lightemission.

In one example, a user turns a power setting to “on” in a camera 300.The camera 300 is configured to indicate to the user that the camera 300is on via indicator lights 404/406. Circuitry within the camera directsthe wireless signal interface 504 to emit UV light in a specificpulsation pattern, which signifies that the indicator screen 404 shoulddisplay the word “ON”. The UV light travels from the wireless signalinterface through a lens cover 402, through a dielectric mirror 506 andinto a phosphor layer 508. The phosphor layer 508 becomes opticallyexcited so that the UV light is re-emitted as visible light for displayto the user, such that the visible light is presented on the indicatorscreen 404 as the word “ON”. Any visible light emitted by the phosphorlayer that is incident on the dielectric mirror is reflected back intothe environment and not transmitted through the dielectric mirror.Therefore, light emitted from the wireless signal interface 504 isvisible on the indicator 404 to the user, but does not cause lightartifacts or image flaws in any images captured by the camera 300.

In various alternative embodiments, the wireless signal interface 504emits non-light wireless signals, such as electromagnetic signals, audiosignals, and the like. In various embodiments, the wireless signalinterface 504 emits signals using the IEEE 802.11 WiFi standard, theIEEE 802.15.1 Bluetooth standard, the IEEE 802.16 WiMax standard, theLTE standard, or any other wireless standard or signal configuration. Insuch embodiments, the excitable element 508 can include a powerconverter configured to receive the wireless signals and to convert thewireless signals to power or electricity for use in producing visiblelight for emission. The reflective layer 506 can be composed of a solaror photovoltaic cell configured to convert light into energy. The energyproduced by such a reflective layer 506 can be used by the excitableelement 508 to emit visible light.

In one embodiment, the excitable element 508 can also include amicrophone or other recording device and a wireless transmitter, and thewireless signal interface 504 can include a wireless receiver. In suchan embodiment, the microphone can record sound external to the camera300 and can wirelessly transmit the recorded sound through thereflective layer 506 for reception by the wireless receiver of thewireless signal interface 504. Continuing with this embodiment, theexcitable element 508 can convert received UV light or other wirelesssignals from the wireless signal interface 504 in order to obtain energyto power the microphone and wireless transmitter. The wireless receiverof the wireless signal interface 504 can receive wireless signals fromthe wireless transmitter of the excitable element 508 representative ofthe sound captured by the microphone of the excitable element 508 forstorage within the camera 300. Such an embodiment allows for the captureof audio by a camera 300 despite the presence of a waterproof exterior(made up of at least the lens cover 402) that otherwise would inhibitthe ability of a microphone internal to the waterproof exterior of thecamera 300 from capturing sound.

In one embodiment, the wireless signal interface 504 and the excitableelement 508 can be implemented within a non-camera device, and can beconfigured to implement the functionalities described herein. Forexample, the wireless signal interface 504 and the excitable element canbe located on opposite sides of a mobile phone case, a vehicle exterior,a tablet computer, and the like. Alternatively, the wireless signalinterface 504 and the excitable element 508 can be implemented within anon-device while implementing the functionalities described herein. Forinstance, the wireless signal interface 504 and the excitable element508 can be implemented on opposite sides of a wall, at differentlocations on a human body, and the like. In such embodiments, thewireless signal interface 504 is configured to broadcast a signal, theexcitable element 508 is configured to receive the signal and perform afunction (for instance, an electronic function powered by electricityconverted from the signal), and the excitable element 508 is optionallyconfigured to broadcast a second signal (for instance, based on thefunction performed by the excitable element 508) that is received by thewireless signal interface 504. In these embodiments, the wirelesssignals are broadcast through a barrier, for instance a camera housing,a wall, and human body, and the like.

Additional Configuration Considerations

The wireless camera illuminators described herein beneficially allow forthe display of notifications by a camera within, for example, a camerahousing. In conventional camera housings, emitting light from within thecamera housing can cause light to refract and reflect within atransparent housing, and can result in the capture of the reflectedlight by the camera's image sensor, resulting in undesirable imageartifacts. By displaying notifications from a wireless camera housingsurface indicator coupled to a reflective surface layer, visible lightproduced by the indicator is reflected away from the camera, reducingthe amount of incidental light produced by the indicators captured bythe image sensor. Further, by receiving wireless signals such as UVlight transmitted through the camera housing, the indicators can producevisible notifications without the need for a wired interface between thecamera and the indicator.

Throughout this specification, some embodiments have used the expression“coupled” along with its derivatives. The term “coupled” as used hereinis not necessarily limited to two or more elements being in directphysical or electrical contact. Rather, the term “coupled” may alsoencompass two or more elements are not in direct contact with eachother, but yet still co-operate or interact with each other, or arestructured to provide a thermal conduction path between the elements.

Likewise, as used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,”“includes,” “including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof,are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process,method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is notnecessarily limited to only those elements but may include otherelements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method,article, or apparatus.

In addition, use of the “a” or “an” are employed to describe elementsand components of the embodiments herein. This is done merely forconvenience and to give a general sense of the invention. Thisdescription should be read to include one or at least one and thesingular also includes the plural unless it is obvious that it is meantotherwise.

Finally, as used herein any reference to “one embodiment” or “anembodiment” means that a particular element, feature, structure, orcharacteristic described in connection with the embodiment is includedin at least one embodiment. The appearances of the phrase “in oneembodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarilyall referring to the same embodiment.

Upon reading this disclosure, those of skill in the art will appreciatestill additional alternative structural and functional designs for acamera expansion module as disclosed from the principles herein. Thus,while particular embodiments and applications have been illustrated anddescribed, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are notlimited to the precise construction and components disclosed herein.Various modifications, changes and variations, which will be apparent tothose skilled in the art, may be made in the arrangement, operation anddetails of the method and apparatus disclosed herein without departingfrom the spirit and scope defined in the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A camera system, comprising: a cameracomprising: a camera body having a camera lens structured on a frontsurface of the camera body; a wireless signal interface structured on afront surface of the camera body, the wireless signal interfaceconfigured to produce wireless control signals for an indicator;electronics internal to the camera body, the electronics for capturingimages via the camera lens and producing wireless control signals viathe wireless signal interface; and a camera housing configured to securethe camera in a first configuration and to allow for the insertion ofthe camera into or removal of the camera from the camera housing in asecond configuration, the camera housing comprising: an enclosurestructured to at least partially enclose the camera; and an indicatorstructured to substantially align with the wireless signal interfacewhen the camera is enclosed within the enclosure and configured toproduce visible light in response to receiving wireless control signalsfrom the wireless signal interface.
 2. The camera system of claim 1,wherein the enclosure comprises a flat front surface configured tosubstantially align with the front surface of the camera body when thecamera is enclosed within the enclosure, and wherein the indicator iscoupled to the flat front surface of the enclosure.
 3. The camera systemof claim 1, wherein the indicator comprises: a reflective layer coupledto the enclosure and configured to substantially align with the wirelesssignal interface when the camera is enclosed within the enclosure, andto reflect visible light incident upon the reflective layer; and anexcitable element coupled to the reflective layer and configured toproduce visible light in response to wireless control signalstransmitted through the reflective layer and incident upon the excitableelement.
 4. The camera system of claim 3, wherein the reflective layercomprises a dielectric mirror configured to reflect light within thevisible spectrum.
 5. The camera system of claim 3, wherein the wirelesssignal interface comprises an ultra-violet (UV) lamp, and wherein thewireless control signals comprise UV light.
 6. The camera system ofclaim 5, wherein the excitable element comprises a phosphor configuredto produce visible light in response to UV light incident upon thephosphor.
 7. A camera system, comprising: a camera comprising a wirelesssignal interface structured on a front surface of the camera and acontroller, the controller configured to cause the wireless signalinterface to produce wireless control signals for an indicator; and acamera housing structured to secure the camera in a first configurationand to allow for the insertion of the camera into or removal of thecamera from the camera housing in a second configuration, the camerahousing comprising an indicator structured to substantially align withthe wireless signal interface when the camera is enclosed within thecamera housing and configured to produce visible light in response toreceiving wireless control signals from the wireless signal interface.8. The camera system of claim 7, wherein the camera housing comprises aflat front surface configured to substantially align with the frontsurface of the camera when the camera is enclosed within the camerahousing, and wherein the indicator is coupled to the flat front surfaceof the camera housing.
 9. The camera system of claim 7, wherein theindicator comprises: a reflective layer coupled to the camera housingand configured to substantially align with the wireless signal interfacewhen the camera is enclosed within the camera housing, and to reflectvisible light incident upon the reflective layer; and an excitableelement coupled to the reflective layer and configured to producevisible light in response to wireless control signals transmittedthrough the reflective layer and incident upon the excitable element.10. The camera system of claim 9, wherein the reflective layer comprisesa dielectric mirror configured to reflect light within the visiblespectrum.
 11. The camera system of claim 9, wherein the wireless signalinterface comprises an ultra-violet (UV) lamp, and wherein the wirelesscontrol signals comprise UV light.
 12. The camera system of claim 11,wherein the excitable element comprises a phosphor configured to producevisible light in response to UV light incident upon the phosphor.
 13. Acamera housing, comprising: an enclosure structured to at leastpartially enclose a camera, the enclosure configured to secure thecamera in a first configuration and to allow for the insertion of thecamera into or removal of the camera from the enclosure in a secondconfiguration; a reflective layer coupled to the enclosure andconfigured to substantially align with a wireless signal interface ofthe camera when the camera is enclosed within the enclosure, and toreflect visible light incident upon the reflective layer; and anexcitable element coupled to the reflective layer and configured toproduce an emission of light in response to wireless control signalstransmitted through the reflective layer and incident upon the excitableelement.
 14. The camera housing of claim 13, wherein the reflectivelayer comprises a dielectric mirror configured to reflect light withinthe visible spectrum.
 15. The camera housing of claim 13, wherein thewireless signal interface comprises an ultra-violet (UV) lamp, andwherein the wireless control signals comprise UV light.
 16. The camerahousing of claim 13, wherein the excitable element comprises a phosphorconfigured to produce visible light in response to UV light incidentupon the phosphor.
 17. A camera housing, comprising: an enclosurestructured to at least partially enclose a camera, the enclosureconfigured to secure the camera in a first configuration and to allowfor the insertion of the camera into or removal of the camera from theenclosure in a second configuration; a lens window structured tosubstantially cover the camera lens of the camera when the camera isenclosed within the enclosure; and an excitable element coupled to afront surface of the camera housing and configured to produce anemission of light in response to wireless control signals transmittedthrough the front surface of the camera housing and incident upon theexcitable element.
 18. The camera housing of claim 17, wherein theexcitable element is configured such that the produced emission of lightdoes not refract into the lens window.
 19. The camera housing of claim17, wherein the camera comprises a wireless signal interface configuredto produce the wireless control signals, the wireless signal interfacecomprising an ultra-violet (UV) lamp, and wherein the wireless controlsignals comprise UV light.
 20. The camera housing of claim 17, whereinthe camera comprises a wireless signal interface configured to producethe wireless control signals, the wireless signal interface comprising aphosphor configured to produce visible light in response to UV lightincident upon the phosphor.